as in falters
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
I didn't hesitate to tell them that what they were doing was wrong and that I wanted no part of it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitates
The Broncos’ wide receivers had four drops in the first half, and BSU failed twice on fourth down when going for it, something Danielson seldom hesitates to do.
—
Idaho Statesman, 29 Nov. 2025
In the final scene, Lee hesitates for a moment before letting Stella choose.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
If the alliance hesitates, Putin will see weakness and press harder.
—David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The actress hesitates for only a second before divulging the story.
—Galina Espinoza, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
But Andreia Alexander, an ER doctor in Indiana, told me that patients should not want a doctor who hesitates to save their life.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
Lower will talk about work all day but hesitates to reveal much about Britt L’s outie.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitates
Verb
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Brown is likely a lock unless his usual consistency falters in the long program on Saturday.—
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Even when Cregger holds his mythology deceptively close to the chest, the emotional intrigue never falters in the wake of a mass disappearance that saw more than 30 local children disappear.—
Verb
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But Barkov will not be able to play, and now an entire nation waits with bated breath to find out if Landeskog will be available or not.—
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Fabiana Hernández Ortega waits for a truck delivering milk — a basic staple that has become increasingly scarce.—
Cite this Entry
“Hesitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitates. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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